Adler is new name for established Mumbai paper companies

Devang and Hrishikesh Vora, the father and son duo who jointly lead several Mumbai-based paper recycling firms, have announced a rebranding of those companies as Adler.

The Voras note that adler means “eagle,” and they say the combined company will use “razor-sharp vision” and a “high and stable flight path” to remain and grow as a “confident and respected” part of the global paper recycling industry.

The three companies being placed under the Adler umbrella are Victory Creations, Paperworks and Ultraprint. (A profile of the companies as they operated in 2016 can be found on here.)

Devang Vora says the rebranding will create “a seamless merger of three global recycling entities.” A veteran of 35 years in the paper industry, Devang says Adler is poised to provide “complete solutions in the recovered paper trade internationally.”

Devang Vora also stresses the combined 100 years of experience held by Adler’s officers as a way to ensure the “upholding of world-class standards in every business-related activity” at the firm. He says, “Our unparalleled commitment to excellence forms the backbone of Adler. It enables us to perform complex business operations with the utmost ease, and this has led to continued growth and success for us and our business partners internationally.”

Hrishikesh Vora says Adler’s associates and its long-time customers are equally enthused about the ability of the rebranded companies to work together to provide cross-border services. “It is gratifying to look back on the decades of growth we have already enjoyed, and it is exciting to be part of something new that we can build on and soar above what we’ve already accomplished,” he says.

“It’s the same people and the same business, but a new chapter and a new identity,” adds Hrishikesh Vora. “We remain committed to our goal of recycling and reusing paper and to reducing carbon footprints across the globe.”

US House Committee on Energy and Commerce to consider RECOVER Act

U.S. Reps. Tony Cárdenas and Larry Bucshon used America Recycles Day to introduce the Realizing the Economic Opportunities and Value of Expanding Recycling (RECOVER) Act. A coalition of partners, led by the Plastics Industry Association (PLASTICS), support House Bill 5115 (H.R. 5115), which would allocate federal grants to states and municipalities to invest in improving recycling programs and infrastructure, including upgrading material recovery facilities and other plants that receive and process recyclables, and enhancing the recovery and collection of material.

In addition to establishing a $500 million matching grants program to support and expand the recycling programs and infrastructure, the RECOVER Act would require the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to submit a report to Congress no later than two years after the date of enactment of this legislation on measures taken toward implementation, according to a news release issued by Cárdenas office. Moreover, the bill precludes the use of EPA funds for incineration.

According to Cárdenas’ Facebook post about H.R. 5115, the bill also would support public-private partnerships to increases materials recovery, direct grant money to consumer education on recycling practices and encourage the development of rural recycling programs.

“This bipartisan, commonsense bill is a smart solution to a growing problem,” Cárdenas says. “The RECOVER Act encourages local and state governments to invest in recycling programs and new technologies to increase collection rates and promote consumer education. This grant would support public-private partnerships and will help communities across the nation to expand and modernize our country’s recycling infrastructure. This bill would create new jobs, boosts our economy and, ultimately, it is good for American families and the environment.”

Bucshon says, “As the father of four kids, it is important to me to leave future generations with a cleaner environment than the one we inherited from our parents and grandparents. One of the ways that we have been successful in cleaning up our nation’s environment is by encouraging greater numbers of Americans to recycle waste items instead of discarding them in landfills.

"Today, our nation is facing a recycling crisis due to inadequate infrastructure and the inability to keep up with waste stream contamination," he continues. "Without the proper recycling infrastructure in place, we will not have the capacity needed to recycle waste items and they will either end up in a landfill, our oceans or elsewhere in the environment as litter."

Bucshon adds, "On America Recycles Day, I am proud to join Congressman Cárdenas in introducing the RECOVER Act, which will help promote greater investment in recycling infrastructure and consumer education to ensure our nation has the recycling infrastructure needed to continue allowing Americans to recycle waste items instead of sending them to the landfill.”

H.R. 5115 would establish a recycling infrastructure program within the EPA and put federal funding toward building new recycling technology and programs to help increase collection rates, improve the sortation and separation of materials, enhance the performance of curbside collection and more, its supporters say.

“We applaud Reps. Cárdenas and Bucshon for introducing a bill that will improve our recycling systems and educate Americans on the importance of reclaiming valuable materials and repurposing them for greater use,” says Tony Radoszewski, president and CEO of the Plastics Industry Association, Washington. “This bipartisan bill will help address the infrastructure shortcomings that can contribute to recyclable materials ending up in our oceans and waterways and we look forward to working with the representatives to move it forward. We are thankful to the coalition members who helped in the development of the bill because improving our recycling infrastructure is necessary for all materials.”

“Prioritizing recycling requires bipartisan support,” says Scott DeFife, president of the Glass Packaging Institute (GPI), Arlington, Virginia. “The Glass Packaging Institute applauds Reps. Cárdenas and Bucshon for their leadership in introducing this important legislation. The RECOVER Act is a proposal both parties can get behind as it grows American manufacturing jobs with a public-private matching infrastructure investment package.”

He adds, “Recycling efforts, including those focused on glass recycling, need federal support to help the system reboot and handle modern waste stream challenges. This bill—and the jobs and economic and environmental benefits it will create and support—is a viable part of a solution to bolstering domestic recycling endeavors while making an impact on sustainability from coast to coast.”

“I am in full support of the RECOVER Act,” says Chairman and CEO of Evansville, Indiana-based Berry Global Tom Salmon. “The time is now to enhance our country’s recycling system through improvements in infrastructure and education at all levels – national, state, and local. Increasing recycling access and material recovery is the first step towards moving to a truly circular economy.”

4thBin hires new CEO

4thBin, a New York-based e-recycler and data disposal company, has appointed Paul Kirsch as its new CEO. According to 4thBin, Paul Kirsch will lead the company as it plans continued national expansion in 2020.

“Paul’s unique background of leading both entrepreneurial and large enterprise experiences makes him uniquely qualified for this position,” John Kirsch, founder of 4thBin, says. “We are excited to have him at the helm, giving us an experienced, steady hand as we quickly magnify our unique services for companies of all sizes across the country who are working to stay compliant with e-waste disposal.”

Paul Kirsch was most recently president of Wilmington, Delaware-based Chemours’s $2.7-billion-per-year fluorochemical operation. He also previously held positions as vice president at New York-based XM Satellite Radio; vice president at Atlanta-based Hughes Telematics; and president of automotive, metals and aerospace at Germany-based Henkel.

Paul Kirsch holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Pittsburgh and earned his MBA from the University of Michigan.

“With the rapid rollouts of 5G creating an unprecedented amount of e-waste, and the ever-changing federal, state and industry-specific legislation, the market is primed for services like ours. 4thBin has more trusted technical and environmental certifications than anyone in the business and is made up of seasoned technologists,” Paul Kirsch says. “We are passionate that customers’ old IT assets, whether laptops or cloud-based, are ethically and securely destroyed to the highest standards. I am honored to help take this company to the next level of success.”

Verde launches store with Recycling Perks member T-shirt slogans

Several weeks ago, Recycling Perks members and Facebook followers were invited to design the ultimate green slogan. The responses were overwhelming, according to Verde, the Chesapeake, Virginia-based company that administers the Recycling Perks program.

“We had heard from our members for a while that they don’t only enjoy improving their green habits but enjoy inspiring others as well,” says Verde Vice President Sandra Hungate. “Based on their dedication, we wanted to offer them a fun way to do that.”

More than 300 slogans were submitted to the company, and some people even submitted drawings of the design they wanted to accompany their slogans. Verde team members chose their top 10 and from the entries submitted, and Recycling Perks members were asked to vote for their final three favorites.

The creators of these slogans, Brock W., Sherri and Tracey E., will receive a t-shirt with their slogan, and their shirts will be featured in Recycling Perks’ new green merchandise store.

Recycling Perks says has always been a people-focused program, Verde says. “It was important to us that we included our members in this next big step for the company,” says Verde President Bill Dempsey.

The online store launched on America Recycles Day, Nov. 15, with $5 off for the first 50 people (who aren’t Recycling Perks members) who make an order (promo code: ARDPERKS). Recycling Perks members have access to exclusive discounts as well.

“We felt there was no better day to launch our new ‘green shirts’ than a day when everyone is focused on the importance of recycling,” says Verde Marketing and Projects Coordinator Amanda Taylor.

The company says it plans to add more t-shirt designs and other green products going forward, granting special discounts for Recycling Perks members.

They are made from a recycled polyethylene terephthalate and organic cotton blend, a fabric that keeps at least four plastic bottles from ending up in a landfill or littered in the environment.

“We hope that our designs will give people a way to express their enthusiasm for recycling and sustainability, with an added bonus of closing the recycling loop by buying recycled products,” says Taylor.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) hosted its first America Recycles Innovation Fair Nov. 14. The event featured entrepreneurs from across the recycling industry showcasing their products, services, outreach and technologies. At the fair, EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler, the National Waste and Recycling Association (NWRA) President Darrell Smith and NWRA Board Chair Ben Harvey of recycling firm E.L Harvey, Westborough, Massachusetts, presented challenge coins to veterans recognizing their service and commitment to environmental protection.

“I am proud to help launch the first America Recycles Innovation Fair that brought together entrepreneurs from across the recycling system to showcase their innovative products, services, outreach and technologies,” said EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler. “Under the Trump administration, EPA is working diligently to identify market-based strategies and innovative ideas to create a more sustainable recycling system in America and across the globe. I look forward to continuing our work with our partners to improve infrastructure, develop secondary markets and more effectively communicate with the public about addressing the entire lifecycle of recycled materials.”

EPA is collaborating with stakeholders from across the recycling system to identify specific actions to address the challenges and opportunities facing the U.S. recycling system. These organizations are committed to leveraging their collective expertise, strengths and resources to address these challenges and opportunities.

Today, Nov. 15, EPA is convening the second America Recycles Day Summit, bringing together organizations from across the recycling system and all levels of government to build on their success in the last year and commit to continuing to work together. Participants include the original 45 organizations that signed the America Recycles Pledge on America Recycles Day 2018, along with the more than 120 additional organizations that signed the pledge in 2019. Pledge signers represent all aspects of the U.S. recycling sector, including representatives from government, the recycling industry, no-profits, corporations and brands and industry trade associations. Participants will hear from America Recycles workgroup members on progress made to date, have an opportunity to provide input on future actions and join the America Recycles effort moving forward.